Clyde dam

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 12

Clyde dam

Sir, — Mr Beetham is surely learning that if you sup with the Devil, you need a long spoon. — Yours, etc., MARGARET SUTTON. July ; 13, 1982.

- Sir,—l listened numbly this morning as the Prime Minister laughed at his "victory”’.over his political opponents. He said that the Labour Party was. the loser: In fact, the losers are the people of New Zealand, who have lost the only recourse the ordinary citizen possesses in his own defence, namely adjudication by the courts. This decision shows that if a government does something without legal authority, it can be excused illegality just because the project was big and expensive. Mr Minogue is right when he says democracy has come to the end of the road in this country.—Yours, etc., GEOFF NICHOL. July 14, 1982.

Sir—Could I now suggest that Social Credit is a Rightwing conservative party. God help the day that we have another of Mr Muldoon’s type running the country. May I also suggest that with the back-loop slam that Mr Beetham has done it will be the end of Social Credit and democracy in this great New Zealand. New Zealand people should wake up. It may be too late tomorrow.— Yours, etc., A. BROAD. July 14, 1982.

Sir,—The capitulation of Social Credit to the. Muldoon Government has ensured that the disgraceful shambles of the Clyde dam project, will be allowed to continue. In a radio broadcast today, an economist, Alistair MacArthur, of Lincoln College, advanced very cogent reasons for restraint in the “think big" mentality, and deserves our thanks for publicising the fact that the Clyde dam can never be a producer of cheap electricity. To continue with its construction is an example of what Mr MacArthur calls the sunken investment fallacy — in layman’s terms, throwing good money after bad. Out of this deplorable affair only the Labour Party and Mr Mike Minogue, M.P., emerge, with credit for sticking to principles, albeit at considerable political cost. Will New Zealanders have the strength of character necessary to mount a protest movement of Springbok tour proportions, or, as Mr Minogue fears, will the whole affair be shrugged off?—Yours, etc., R. L. PLUCK. July 14, 1982.

Sir,—Since the election Little Red Riding Hood Beetham has continued to trip through the forest with his basket of concealed promised goodies. But lo and behold, upon finally reaching Grandma’s cottage, showing no concern whatsoever for her welfare, he has jumped into bed with the wolf. Many New Zealanders will be disappointed with this ending. They . must console themselves, with the thought that it was, after all, only a fairy story.—Yours, etc., T. DOLBY. July 14, 1982.

Sir,—Mr Beetham’s "big joke" solution, namely “due legal process,” followed by legislation if that fails, is but another chapter in a sorry saga. As for Mr Minogue’s statement of “getting out of dreamland and playing politics” ... can’t he see that is exactly the game he is playing? To say it could all be resolved in two months clearly ignores the objectors’ rights of appeal, in stages, right up to the Privy Council. That could take months. Every Parliamentary session, empowering legislation is passed to circumvent objectors. Are the Clutha objectors any different from the householders and landowners, who have been bulldozed for motorways, roads, etc? In days gone by did not the Minister of Justice exercise clemency, after “due process” had condemned a murderer to '• hang? Didn’t Labour even do this? Mr Minogue and Labour should let the dam live and stop day dreaming and playing politics.' Pass that legislation and save us poor taxpayers a few million dollars. — Yours, etc., .1. D. CLOUSTON. - July 13, 1982.